CSTS 221: The Ancient Novel (HC): Socio-Political Issues

Overview essays trace the major elements which influenced Classical historians including social class, educational institutions, political ideologies, and literary aims. Also available as an e-book.

Essays include "The Ethics of Autocracy in the Roman World."

The study of ancient Roman society blossomed in the 1970's. By now, we possess a very large literature on the individuals and groups that constituted the Roman community, and the various ways in which members of that community interacted. There is, however, no overview that takes into account the multifarious progress that has been made in the past thirty or forty years. The purpose of this handbook is twofold. On the one hand, it synthesizes what has heretofore been accomplished in this field. On the other hand, it attempts to configure the examination of Roman social relations in some new ways, and thereby indicates directions in which the discipline might proceed.